Green River Community College
ESOL 015 – Level 5
Listening Skills and Strategies
Description of Miss Rose White - Part 6
Unfinished business - Facing the past and the truth
Everyone is at the family home and very happy, especially Lucia and Papa. Aunt Perla asks about Rose’s life. She starts to reply, but then Papa talks loudly and Rose stops. Papa is so happy. He says, “I’ll have a family again, a family.” Rose can’t take it any longer. She tells him, “You always had a family, you just didn’t notice.” She’s hurt and lets him know it. She tells him that Rose White doesn’t need him. When Papa learns that his Raysl Weiss has changed her name to Rose White, he is angrier than ever. He tells that his name “… is the only thing he had to give her.” She responds, “What about love?” He says she didn’t love him because she never forgave him for taking her away from her mother. He says if she doesn’t want his name, then she is no longer his daughter. Rose runs out and Lucia wants to go comfort her, but Papa insists that Lucia stay to be part of the family.
Rose is back at her apartment. She takes down a photo album from a hidden area in the closet. Lucia comes back while she’s looking at the photos and says she’s “Sorry that Papa hurt you.” Then she goes to her room to get something. When she comes back, she confesses something to Rose. Lucia tells Rose that she did a terrible thing. She explains that she lied when Rose asked if their Mama talked about her. She then gives Rose a final letter from Mama . It’s written in Polish so Lucia has to read it for her. In the letter, Mama tells her how much she loves her. She tells her to remember her mama and she gives her a lock of her hair. She says she has no advice, but wants her to understand how she feels for Raysl. Lucia tells her that “Love does not die. Time cannot kill it, nor even many miles or even death.” Rose holds the letter and her mama’s hair to her face, wipes her tears and kisses it.
Only Rose knows what to do
Back at the store Rose is walking around with Miss Ryan. They have a heart to heart talk. Miss Ryan tells her that Rose made mistakes in her work and she will have to make some important decisions that only Rose will know what to do.
The whole family is at the immigrant offices when David comes. Papa won’t talk to Rose. He looks away when she calls to him. Then David come and he and Lucia are united with great joy.
Later Rose is leaving work and sees Mr. McKay. She asks if he’d like to walk her home. He does and then they look at her pictures. We understand that she tells him her whole story. She tells him her Jewish name and he gives her a very thoughtful and gentle kiss.
The family is gathered in Lucia and David’s new home which looks wonderful. They are ready to light the candles and eat the Sabbath meal when Rose knocks on the door. Rose comes in and greets everyone when Papa walks away and looks out the window. Rose asks him to not do this. She says it’s their last chance to be a family. She tells him that she forgives him and asks him to forgive her. He turns around and tells her she “looks just like her mother.” Rose tells him that she loves him and they hug. Lucia says they should start because the sun is setting. That means the Sabbath is beginning. As they gather around the table, Lucia asks Rose to offer the prayer and light the candles for her first Sabbath in her new home, in her new country with her whole family. Rose does this for the family and then the meal begins with wine and a toast. The words, “The Beginning” come across the screen as the movie comes to an end.